Tuesday, August 01, 2006

For those of you who don't know Alfred Hawthorn Hill (January 21, 1924 – April 20, 1992), better known as Benny Hill, was a prolific English comic, actor & singer, best known for his television program, The Benny Hill Show. Since its debut in 1955 his television show has been sold to over 140 countries worldwide, with viewership in the billions. The show was essential viewing as a kid even if I did'nt get most of the jokes!

Clearly some of the funniest TV ever produced which eventually became "politically incorrect" and was forced off TV. I won't go into too much detail about Benny Hill because the links below tell the story much better than I could ever do.

Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) was an innuendo-laden comic song written and performed by Benny Hill. According to some reports Hill originally recorded the song for his BBC show in 1956, but if this is correct it would seem that the original performance was wiped. The song was not to become famous until the 1970s.

Hill performed the song on The Benny Hill Show in 1970. The original clip is seldom repeated as it was made in black and white owing to a technicians' strike, but the episode has been released on DVD on both sides of the Atlantic.

The following year it was included with minor lyrical revisions on Hill's album Words and Music. When it was released as a single it became a surprise Number 1 chart hit. A promotional film was shot starring Hill as Ernie and Henry McGee as Ted.

Lyrics in full..You could hear the hoof beats pound as they raced across the ground,And the clatter of the wheels as they spun 'round and 'round.And he galloped into market street, his badge upon his chest,His name was Ernie, and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

Now Ernie loved a widow, a lady known as Sue,She lived all alone in Liddley Lane at number 22.They said she was too good for him, she was haughty, proud and chic,But Ernie got his cocoa there three times every week.

They called him Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee) And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

She said she'd like to bathe in milk, he said, "All right, sweetheart,"And when he'd finished work one night he loaded up his cart.He said, "D'you want it pasturize? 'Cause pasturize is best,"She says, "Ernie, I'll be happy if it comes up to my chest."

That tickled old Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee) And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

Now Ernie had a rival, an evil-looking man,Called Two-Ton Ted from Teddington and he drove the baker's van.He tempted her with his treacle tarts and his tasty wholemeal bread,And when she seen the size of his hot meat pies it very near turned her head.

She nearly swooned at his macaroon and he said, "If you treat me right,You'll have hot rolls every morning and crumpets every night."He knew once she sampled his layer cake he'd have his wicked way,And all Ernie had to offer was a pint of milk a day.

Poor Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

One lunch time Ted saw Ernie's horse and cart outside her door,It drove him mad to find it was still there at half past four.And as he lept down from his van hot blood through his veins did course,And he went across to Ernie's cart and didn't half kick his 'orse.

Whose name was Trigger, (Triggerrrrrrrr)And he pulled the fastest milk cart in the west.

Now Ernie rushed out into the street, his gold top in his hand,He said, "If you wanna marry Susie you'll fight for her like a man.""Oh why don't we play cards for her?" he sneeringly replied,"And just to make it interesting we'll have a shilling on the side."

Now Ernie dragged him from his van and beneath the blazing sun,They stood there face to face, and Ted went for his bun.But Ernie was too quick, things didn't go the way Ted planned,And a strawberry-flavoured yogurt sent it spinning from his hand.

Now Susie ran between them and tried to keep them apart,And Ernie, he pushed her aside and a rock cake caught him underneath his heart.And he looked up in pained surprise and the concrete hardened crust,Of a stale pork pie caught him in the eye and Ernie bit the dust.

Poor Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

Ernie was only 52, he didn't wanna die,And now he's gone to make deliveries in that milk round in the sky.Where the customers are angels and ferocious dogs are banned,And the milkman's life is full of fun in that fairy, dairy land.

But a woman's needs are many fold and soon she married Ted,But strange things happened on their wedding night as they lay in their bed.Was that the trees a-rustling? Or the hinges of the gate?Or Ernie's ghostly gold tops a-rattling in their crate?

They won't forget Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeee)And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

Feel free to submit any more Benny Hill links that you find and I will add them to this page. Thanks.

Brilliant post; it will take a while to get through all the information. Although they say the U.S. version of the show was less risque, I distinctly remember seeing my first pair of knockers on the Benny Hill show as a teenager.

Thanks, I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I can't say about the US version having never seen it but I do know that the UK version was very risque. In fact I just got a copy of the best of Benny Hill and I'm looking forward to watching that sometime soon. :)